Update – Sweden announced it will deliver 5000 anti-armour rocket launchers, 5000 body armour kits, 5000 helmets, and 135,000 field rations to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Germany will supply Ukraine with defensive anti-tank weapons, surface-to-air missiles and ammunition, the government said, in a shift of policy as Russia’s forces continued to pound Kyiv and other cities on day three of its campaign.
Belgium to send 3,000 machine guns and 200 anti-tank grenade launchers.
The US authorizes $350 million in new military assistance to Ukraine, Secretary of State Blinken says.
France to send defensive weapons and fuel to Ukraine.
Australia will pour money into a Western-led effort to help arm Ukrainian soldiers trying to repel the Russian invasion as the conflict further intensifies.
The ABC understands Australia will not directly ship any weapons to Ukraine, but will instead make a financial contributions to NATO to bolster weapons shipments.
The government has not said how large that contribution will be.
Australia had already committed to send non-lethal aid in the form of military equipment and medical supplies, but had ruled out sending troops.
The government has also offered cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine to help it defend against Russian cyber attacks.
Germany dramatically ramped up its backing for Ukraine’s battle against Russia, approving weapons deliveries for Kyiv in a policy U-turn and agreeing to limit Moscow’s access to the SWIFT interbank system.
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point in history. It threatens our entire post-war order,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz as his government approved the delivery of a huge batch of lethal weapons to Kyiv.
“In this situation, it is our duty to support Ukraine to the best of our ability in its defence against (Russian President) Vladimir Putin’s invading army,” said Scholz, stressing that Germany “stands closely by Ukraine’s side”.
In a shift from its longstanding policy of banning weapons exports to conflict zones, Berlin is opening up its Bundeswehr store, pledging to transfer 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 “Stinger” class surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine.
It also finally approved the deliveries of 400 anti-tank rocket launchers via the Netherlands to Ukraine on Saturday.
The anti-tank launchers had been purchased by the Netherlands from Berlin, and The Hague had therefore required Germany’s green light to hand them to Kyiv.
